Hermanus has become a favourite destination for artists, collectors and people who simply appreciate different and diverse art. There are numerous galleries and studios in and around Hermanus that offer tourists and locals the opportunity to soak up and get lost in the incredible art. Anything Hermanus has decided to dedicate 2 newsletters to art and although this is still not enough time or space to do justice to even half of the talented artists in this town, it is at least a start. We have randomly chosen artists and galleries to give you a glimpse of what there is on offer in Hermanus. In this newsletter we introduce you to Leon Muller and his gallery Art Thirst, Artist Terry Kobus and Edward Bredenkamp and Ian McDonald and their gallery Lembu.
Art Thirst: Leon Muller and Petrus Viljoen...
Walking into Leon Miller's art gallery Art Thirst is an uplifting and yet peaceful experience. You are treated to a wide range of art work, predominantly the works of Leon Miller and Petrus Viljoen, which compliment each other so well. The sounds of flowing water in the background give you a sense of serenity as you take your time soaking up the art.
Leon studied art in Pretoria and has been painting full time for the last 25 years. He has gained experience and inspiration from years of travelling overseas to interesting places like Paris, Nice, Spain, Istanbul, Uruguay to mention a few. He studied at the Cité Interntionale in Paris where he learnt new techniques of using texture and making his own paints from taking pigments from different sources
e.g.. Ground rocks. These techniques have become his trade mark and distinguishes his art from others.
Three years ago, Leon came to Hermanus for a holiday...
read the entire interview with Leon Muller
Artist Terry Kobus
When I visited Terry Kobus at his studio in Vermont, I could see how anyone would be inspired to paint in its beautiful setting. His studio opens out onto a covered patio with stunning mountain views.
Terry was born in Zimbabwe and grew up with the outdoors and bush being a big part of his life and this still has a strong influence in helping him find inspiration to paint.
He studied fine art at Wits Technikon and lectured there in graphic printmaking for 6 years. Terry put painting on the backburner and tried his hand at a number of different things. He has always had a passion for cycling and this led him to owning and running a gym in Johannesburg for 10 years, the first gym to introduce spinning in South Africa.
read more about Terry
Lembu: Edward Bredenkamp and Ian McDonald
It is always sad when an art gallery closes down but as we say farewell to The Phillip Harper Gallery we welcome the new LEMBU Gallery and Studio – an art gallery with a difference. It is situated next to Bellini's Gallery and with the interleading doors wide open between the two galleries they are an extension of each other.
Lembu, meaning "piece of cloth" in Ndebele is owned by artists Edward Bredenkamp and Ian McDonald and opened its doors on the 20th March. The Gallery has a distinctive African feel displaying the rich, colourful fabrics that they design and paint and the various products they create from the materials – wall hangings, cushions, place mats, table runners and scented sachets to mention a few.
read more about Lembu
The Feel Good Bit: Love Projects
Love Projects was formed purely by accident when an extremely generous lady who wishes to remain anonymous (we shall just call her Kim) over- catered for her son's 2 year old birthday party. Kim made soup and bread for the parents but when she ended up with left-overs she gave them to her maid Elizabeth Bala and told her to take them to her home in Zwelihle and feed the hungry kids. So that evening Elizabeth sent her daughter to find any hungry children in the area to come and eat a healthy meal.
It was such a treat for the children that the next day, they were back for more and because of the kind heartedness of Elizabeth and Kim, these children now receive a healthy home cooked meal every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
read more about Love Projects
The Blue Bit: Sharken Your Senses!
Troubled Living Dinosaur from the Deep
Sharks have existed on Earth for about 400 million years and have been so well adapted to their ecological role in nature that they have hardly changed over time. Most sharks are fast predators, blessed with a gorgeous grin (a lifetime’s supply of perfect sharp white teeth), well developed sensory systems and a cartilaginous skeleton instead of bone for suppleness and speed. Not all sharks eat other animals as they occupy a range of ecological roles, from the giant plankton eating Basking and Whale sharks to bottom dwelling Carpet sharks, and the ultimate pelagic predator; the Great White shark.
read more about Sharks
The Hermanus Poll
Our current Hermanus Opinion Poll question is:
Would you be interested in a monthly "Meet the artist in their studio" Hermanus Art Ramble?
You can visit the site and vote or view the results.
If you have any events in and around Hermanus you can register on our web site Anything Hermanus and add them for free to our events calendar. Get your business listed too!
Change a life for the better in April...
Warm regards,
The Anything Hermanus Team
